Addie?s father promised that she would learn to read and write her name. But when he doesn't return from the Civil War, it seems as if Addie's dreams might be lost with him. The war has been hard on the whole country, but it has devastated the South. It is a struggle for Addie's mother to find food for her children. Finding the money for desks and books for their education seems impossible, and she tells them that they'll have to wait. But Addie doesn't want to wait. She pleads with her mother to help find a way to make good on her father's promise. So Addie's mother uses her skill to craft a beautiful quilt which, with the help of a friend in the North who can auction it for them, will pay for the new school supplies. But not before Addie must decide to sacrifice something she treasures for something she so longs for.A poignant Civil War tale told from the Southern perspective, Addie's story is sure to make its mark on the hearts and minds of all who understand and share her thirst for knowledge and self-realization.